"Don't play coy." His lips brushed against her ear. "I'm quite sure you know the difference."

The warmth of his breath on her skin felt fantastic. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You really shouldn't tease me like that," he warned, adding fuel to her fire.

"Who said anything about teasing?" she had the nerve to say. Her heart pounded in her chest. He brought out a side in her she never knew existed.

"Then would you like to continue?"

"Now that sounds like a challenge." Her brow rose. "You really shouldn't challenge a woman like me," she warned with a playful wink before stepping back.

Grinning from ear to ear with excitement, she guided Mo Qingchen over to the gallery. It took her a moment to remember why she brought him there. Oddly enough, he had yet to release her hand.

His energy weaved through her. The vibrations held out palms together like magnets. As she showed him some of her favorite works, he surprised her by seeming interested in a few of them. One, in particular, caught his eye.

"Exceptional." His laser-like stare soaked in every detail of the painting. "Why would the artist show it here?"

"What's wrong with showing it here?" The Incarnadine was the ultimate catalyst for creative inspiration.

"I don't know much about art a work like this belongs in a genuine art gallery."

Qian Meng snickered. "This is a genuine art gallery. Artists put their work up here for the genuine enjoyment of those who love art and not for monetary gain. But a lot of big names in the art industry frequent this place. It's a secret location for our kind," she prompted.

"Why did you bring me here tonight?" Mo Qingchen stared at her. "Did you want me to stand out?"

"Of course not," she choked. "I brought you here because I want you to have fun and discover new things. Instead of appreciating beauty in conventional places, I want to show you that unexpected places can hold great significance. This place holds a great significance in my life."

"How?" he asked. He seemed surprised.

"University was harsh. I was working, planning my business, designing, and studying all at the same time. When I was at a road-block, I would come here to soak in the creative energy. It helped me." She looked at him. "So, when I feel uncontrollably fond, or happy, or sad, I come here to share that experience. You never know, maybe someone will draw creative energy from it!"

"Fascinating." He looked speechless. She couldn't tell what it meant and before she got a chance to find out, Xuxu swung his long arm around her shoulder.

"Meng'er, dinner is served! Please come before it gets cold."

- - - - -

"This wasn't as bad as I expected," Mo Qingchen commented as he placed his folded napkin on the table. He had scraped his plate clean, so Qian Meng knew he enjoyed the meal.

"You need to work on your complimenting skills." She shook her head at him.

"I don't give compliments often," he stated the obvious. But he did compliment her. At times.

"Let's practice," she paused with a grin. "We'll start off slow. What did you like about the meal?"

"It didn't taste bad," he replied dryly.

"That's a good thing. You had a good meal." Her smile brightened. "Qian Meng, I had a good meal," she mocked his deep voice but missed its velvety smoothness. "See how easy that was?"

"The meal bordered on average because my expectations were low." His eyes scanned the room.

"That is why you licked your plate clean," Qian Meng said sarcastically. "Why do you need to be so negative?" she sighed.

"And why are you so positive about people and things?" he countered, equally frustrated.

"Okay, let's try this again. I am not giving up." She pressed her finger to her lip as she concentrated. "Can you think of anything about me that doesn't bother you?"

He leaned back into his chair. "Are you fishing for compliments?"

Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Definitely not. How about I start? I find you highly intelligent." She gestured to him. "Your turn."

Maybe she was fishing for compliments under the guise of teaching him a lesson.

He scratched the back of his neck as he let out a puff of air. "I find you highly… persuasive." Qian Meng gave him the evil eye. He clearly wanted to say that she was manipulative.

She would beg to differ.

"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment." Lifting her glass of wine, she kept her gaze on him. "I find you a talented kickboxer."

Honestly, she didn't know a thing about kickboxing, but he looked great doing it.

He moved in closer to her. "I find you a talented kisser."

She choked on her wine, causing several patrons to look at her in alarm. After recovering the ability to breathe, she held up her hand. "I'm okay. Wrong pipe."

Mo Qingchen sat there, grinning wickedly.

"You are evil," she whisper-shouted from across the table.

"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment." He tipped his wine glass at her.

"Alright, you want to play dirty, Mr. Mo?" she challenged with my most mischievous grin. "I find you a talented boob muncher."

He coughed on his wine as she smirked triumphantly.

Her gloating gaze froze when it reached his. The look in his eyes nearly forced her to crawl across the table, climb into his lap and show him the full extent of her unexplored dry humping skills.

Slowly he scraped his thumb across his bottom lip, not generally a sexual act, but it caused her hips to tingle.

He cleared his throat. "I find you irresistible when you look at me like that."

Qian Meng swallowed hard. "My hips are tingling," she blurted out. Her filter disappeared, definitely not good.

"Are they?" He seemed fascinated by this information.

She nodded slowly.

He snapped his fingers but it didn't work.